Cherry blossoms...
This year, it is a bit early... but here it comes.
Of course, MoonFlower and I didn't want to miss them.

Went out to Ueno Park to see them.
It is a large park and tons of people were already there.

Great view everywhere...

Walked all over the place...

Not only Japanese but also lots of foreigners there.

So obvious to distinguish the foreigners because of:

1. easily entering into restricted area for photo taking
2. talking very loud voice

Hahaha. You got me right?
Hehehe.

Funny thing is that Ueno is yet center of Tokyo...
Though due to a number of foreigners among Japanese,
I could feel like it were foreign place.

True, though. Really.

Japan is of course part of border-less world for sure. 

MoonFlower and I made it quite early this morning.
Very rare.
Usually, we're slow in Saturday morning.

Probably, Sunday morning also. Yeah, lazy, huh.

When I finished taking shower, it was yet 8am or so. Very early!
Made my day quite long. Very good!
Longer time I can spend more things can be done.

Making our weekend more fruitful.



Book titled "Professional's Documentation Capability"
Written by the internal trainer at IBM (Consulting Division).
This was a best seller for a while. I do not know it is so still today.

I made a request to local public library for my reading.
Finally came here... My request was submitted way back... like last year.
Returning due today... so I read it at very fast pace.

Very good book, indeed. Approach was quite squared.
I took some notes out of that book.
Yes, returned the book in time.

MoonFlower spent some time with her friends today.
Came back around the supper time.
So we decided to dine out. At cheap local tavern tonight.





















Food after food. We surely ordered too much.
Less alcohol.

Bill came still small. Surprising. We expected a much larger (than usual).
She and I had to laugh to that together.
Very economic supper. Good one, though.

MoonFlower wanted to go to some gallery for her favorite crafts.
Well, we did get there… stayed there for a while… in vain.
She ended up buying nothing. Zero. Nada.

Hmmm. I really thought that she went there for a big shopping. Hahaha.
Maybe next time.

Then, we continued a little journey and came here.



"Patissier Inamura Shozo" - famous cake shop.
More than 20 people were in line outside. Must be really good!
Spent about 40 minutes waiting. Seriously.



Like hotel - there is a coordinator serving outside.
Must be really good!!! Hahaha.



Cream puff - pretty good!



This is THE famous. Strawberry roll.
Did I like it? Yes, I did.



Montblanc - chestnut cake. Another good one.

Of cpurse, we still opened a bottle over supper tonight.
Italian wine. Chianti.



La Galliana - reasonably priced at local grocery store.



Not bad.

Along with supper, entertainment for the night was "Top Design" show.



Viewed by Hulu. MF was quite into this show.
20 episodes? Then we have to continue watching into tomorrow.

It has been a while since my new job started.
How is it so far?
Too bad that I cannot answer that question comfortably.

Of course, I like the work.

Just a matter of expectation from the company's management.
Hard to understand? Yeah, that is reasonable.
New job is came out of new office opened in Japan.

Meaning, the entire Japan operation is quite new to the market.
Thus, acknowledgment by the market cannot be done in short term.
It takes time to promote the name and its services.

The pace we do is not as fast as what the management expected.
Local management gets lots of pressure from upper one.
Hmmm doesn't sound like healthy environment.

Let's keep fingers crossed and continue what I / we can do for work.
Yet, still hard to say that this was right move for me coming to this work or not.
Just too early!

Maybe later this year, I can come to laugh at this event.
Wish me luck!

Koji Watanabe - friend and ex-cowoker.
He was a part of Thai project last year.
Now, he and I no longer work for same entity.

Yeah, the path is now different. Though, certain friendship surely remains.
1st time after he gets a new job… so nice to see you!



Took place in Italian restaurant near Tokyo Station.



Because of bull markets in Tokyo Stock Exchange? Place was full. Hahaha.



Good smile, my friend! Koji is happy with new company and job.
So glad to see him.
Chatted lots of different things… from work to family.

Maybe another one to dine with him and possibly his wife????

Because I had time??? I stuck to the stock market which moved interestingly today.
Yeah, big volatility for sure.
It was because of new guy… Mr. Kuroda who is the nominee for next president of BOJ.

Yes, Bank of Japan.

He attended a meeting in the National Diet… it was about 10am.
Until then, the market was quite strong. Bull market.
After he made comments, the market went steady.

Actually, downward.

So I sold all around the peak.
At the same time, I took buying on margin because I knew that it would go down.

I knew? No. I guessed. Yep, I guessed it right.
Market went as I expected.
Thus, I can make money on both sides. WONDERFUL deal I made. Hehehe.

Fun is over. I cannot do such everyday. Lots of stress because of money deal.
I shouldn't pay attention to this much, either.
Though, things went very well at least today. NICE.



Good dinner took place between two of us…
It was cold outside. Soup was a good choice. Great choice.
Made me warm and ready for good night sleep.

See ya!

Chasing after AWESOME French toast today!



Cafe in Shinjuku… a place where MoonFlower has ever been to.
NOT me. It was my 1st visit… absolutely.



LOOK!
They were FANTASTIC ones for me. Made me full quite easily.
Apple sauce was perfect match.



World's Fountain Pen Show in Nihonbashi.
NO purchase made, though.



What we picked from shopping was this coaster.
Pretty cool.



This wine… was VERY SWEET. Made me feel like drinking sweet wine.
However, interesting enough… this came along with Japanese food as supper tonight.





Then pasta.



Sweet is home made by MoonFlower. WONDERFUL stuff.
Made me totally full… all day long. Hahaha.

Some of my collection pens - fountain pens suffer from inconsistent ink flow.
Just like this -



Ink stays above the air within the converter.
That is not right.
Ink becomes the wall to prevent the air intake. Ink does not flow at all.

I hate this symptom.

Some of my pens… happened to be 2 Visconti fountain pen face that issue.
Today, I cleaned the inside of converter.
After the cleaning, I refilled ink again to see if the same symptom still occurs.

It did. Made no difference. No improvement. What a shock!
Better get some drinks! Hahaha.



Dinner with some drinks as per MoonFlower's recommendation.
Interesting shape of ice in my glass!

Polar bear ice it was!!! Cute, isn't it?
MF is so proud of this.
Good choice!



Curry over rice - today's supper.



Home-made cake followed.
This was very nice! MF learned how to make this today.
Good job!

Yep, new job starts in new office located in a new building. Hahaha.
Everything is so-called BRAND NEW!
Isn't that something???

Over dinner - a little festivity took place among friends of mine.
Yes, including myself, too. Sure thing.

Three of us got together around 7:30pm… straight into our "usual" tavern.

Three glasses of beer first.
Ordered many things without suspension. Hahaha.
Lots of foods and drinks… another glass… then another. Relentlessly.

Though, I was under quite good control.
First glass of beer… which I took quite slow, then hit to another type of drink.
That was it.

Everyone pitched in to pay the bill… only 3,000 yen each. Not bad… CHEAP!

On top of that… it was a good gathering for all friends like that.
Cannot wait for another one to throw.
Good deal!